The document discusses the realities of MOOCs based on a MOOC on sustainable supply chains that had 660 participants from 45 countries. It finds that while 56% logged on, only 18% completed the first half of the first module and 14% finished the first module. It also discusses lessons learned: size of class didn't impact participation levels; completing the first module was important for continuing; and those with higher educational backgrounds were more likely to finish. The document raises questions about the business model for MOOCs.

1. Realities of MOOCs
The
BEN BETTS
CEO @ HT2 Inc.
Research Engineer @ University of Warwick, UK

2. BEN BETTS
Massive Open Online Courses – two distinctions…
xMOOCs vs cMOOCs
What are MOOCs?
The Realities of MOOCs

3. An exercise in chaos?
cMOOCs
No timetable
No set platform
Connectivist approach
BEN BETTS
The Realities of MOOCs

4. Chaos commercialized…
xMOOCs
Set timetable
Content driven
Getting really popular via
Coursera, EdX etc…
BEN BETTS
The Realities of MOOCs

5. Sustainable Supply Chains
Our MOOC
An xMOOC with some cMOOC elements
4 modules, spread over 8 weeks
Lead by Prof. Simon Croom
BEN BETTS
The Realities of MOOCs

6. A ‘gamified’, social platform; really easy to create the course
BEN BETTS
The Realities of MOOCs

7. 660 participants registered
Sustainable Supply Chains
45 countries
Mostly executives working in large, blue-chip companies
Lots of different education backgrounds – high school,
university, higher level degrees
BEN BETTS
The Realities of MOOCs

8. Stats breakdown
Sustainable Supply Chains
660 registered
56% logged on
18% made it halfway in module 1
14% made it to the end of module 1
BEN BETTS
The Realities of MOOCs

9. BEN BETTS
The Realities of MOOCs

10. Social was well used
Sustainable Supply Chains
12,000 + comments
1,003 pieces of user-generated content
We ran some tests to investigate further…
BEN BETTS
The Realities of MOOCs

11. BEN BETTS
The Realities of MOOCs

12. 1. Size doesn’t matter
Three lessons we learned
Tests with classrooms of 300, 150 and 50 show
no statistical difference in activity
BEN BETTS
The Realities of MOOCs

13. 2. To finish, start.
Three lessons we learned
We lost 87% before the end of module 1.
Just 3% dropped out after completing module 1.
BEN BETTS
The Realities of MOOCs

14. 3. Educational history matters
Three lessons we learned
People with degrees were 3 times more likely to
complete.
BEN BETTS
The Realities of MOOCs

15. Early days for MOOCs…
Where’s the business model?
We’re making some $ from accreditation
Others making money from recruitment + data
Mostly seen as a cost of marketing
BEN BETTS
The Realities of MOOCs

16. Questions?
Thanks for your time
Visit:
http://www.sandiego.edu/business/centers/supply_chain_
To find out about our next MOOC!
Or come see us at booth 1146.
BEN BETTS
The Realities of MOOCs